Vaporizer for liquid fuel burner



July 31, 1956 F. GRAETZ 2,756,579

VAPORIZER FOR LIQUID FUEL. BURNER Filed Oct. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l III July 31, 1956 F. GRAETZ 2,756,579

VAPORIZER FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed Oct. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IH'Z, @raeTL 37 'mwwmsvmm aqt.

United States Patent VAPORIZER FOR LIQUID FUEL BURNER Fritz Graetz, 'Altena, Westphalia, Germany Application October 20, 1954, Serial No. 463,527

Claims priority, application Germany May 22, 1951 7 Claims. (Cl. 67-50) The invention relates to Vaporizers.

More particularly, this invention relates to varporizers for high candle power lamps and lanterns burning liquid fuels under air pressure.

There exist in the art various lamps using Vaporizers consisting of a vertical tube which has near one end thereof a tubular coil, the purpose of which is to increase the path of fuel flow from the lower end of the vaporizer tube to the upper end, or fuel discharge jet, thereof.

In normal operation the Vaporizers of such lamps or lanterns are preheated by methyl alcohol or other suitable means and subsequent heating of the vaporizer is achieved by the heat radiated from a glowing heater plug which forms the actual light source of the lamp. The arrangement is usually such that the heater plug is located in the coil, more or less concentrically with respect thereto and opposite one side of the vaporizer tube. Consequently the loop will be heated by the plug, as will be one side of the vertical tube of the vaporizer. In known devices the position of the plug relative to the vaporizer and coil is such that the distance between the plug and the loop is relatively large while the distance between the plug and the vaporizer tube is small. In some arrangements, such as wherein the heater plug is fixed at an angle relative to the vaporizer tube, the plug may be so close to the tube that the plug and tube are almost in contact with each other. As a result, the vaporizer tube may become overheated and will tend to twist and bend while the lamp is burning.

In other arrangements, a darting flame which issues through a hole in the side of the heater plug may impinge upon the vaporizer tube thereby subjecting it to exceedingly high temperatures so that the tube instead of merely being heated sufliciently to heat the fuel contained therein, will be overheated and may melt.

Attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages by equipping the vaporizer tubewith reinforcements located exteriorly of the coil and in the vicinity of the heater plug. It has been found, however, that such reinforcements usually act as cooling fins or surfaces so that such an arrangement is accompanied by the dissipation of considerable amounts of heat so that vaporizing tubes which are equipped with such reinforcements are unable to reach a temperature sufficiently high properly to vaporize fuel flowing through the tubes so that as a result a fuel burner arrangement provided with such a vaporizer is unable to function properly.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a vaporizer device which is capable of providing proper amounts of vaporized fuel, which device will give continuous and trouble-free service.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vaporizer device which is adapted'to heat fuel contained therein while at the same time being constructed so as to be capable of resisting deformation under the influence of heat.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fuel burner arrangement in which a vaporizer is "ice provided which is reinforced in the region in which it is subjected to the greatest amount of heat radiated by a heater plug so as to prevent deformation of the vaporizer under the influence of heat.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a vaporizer for a fuel burner arrangement which vaporizer is provided with a single member which performs the dual function of transferring heat radiated by a heater plug to the vaporizer tube so as to heat the fuel contained therein and of reinforcing the vaporizer tube on that side thereof which is exposed to the greatest heat so as to prevent deformation, such as bending or twisting, thereof.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a vaporizer which may be produced very easily and very inexpensively.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of a fuel burner arrangement having a vaporizer tube which has a first portion of predetermined diameter and a second portion of a diameter smaller than this predetermined diameter. The first tube portion has on one side thereof a groove of predetermined length which extends longitudinally within the first tube portion from the place where the first tube portion meets the sec ond tube portion. The depth of this groove is essentially equal in the difference in radii of the tube portions.

A heating coil is in communication with the first portion of the vaporizer tube, is mounted thereon on the one side thereof, and projects laterally therefrom.

A fuel burner is connected to and adapted to be supplied with fuel by the vaporizer tube and is arranged in the region of the heating coil and opposite the one side of the vaporizer tube.

An elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting member or rib, which rib may have a substantially rectangular or T-shaped cross-section, is secured along its length to both portions of the tube on the one side thereof and extends in longitudinal direction thereof facing the burner. The rib is arranged throughout at least part of its length at least partially within the groove so as simultaneously to transfer heat from the burner to the tube for heating fuel therein and to reinforce the tube so as to prevent deformation thereof when the same is heated by the burner.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Serial No. 261,737, filed November 14, 1951, now abandoned.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of opeartion, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accorn panying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation view of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the present invention; 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a vaporizer according to the present invention using a modified combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic front elevation view of a fuel burner arrangement incorporating a vaporizer according 3 tube portion and projects laterally therefrom on one side thereof, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

A burner 6 is connected to the vaporizer tube 1 and is adapted to be supplied with fuel by the tube. The burner is arranged in the region of the heating coil so as to be substantially concentric therewith. As is well known in the art, a heater plug forming part of the burner 6 is arranged so as to be opposite the side of the vaporizer tube 1 from which the heating coil 2 projects. In normal operation the heat radiated by the heater plug of the burner 6 heats the heating coil 2 and also heats the tube it proper so as to heat the fuel contained therein. The fuel vaporized by the vaporizer tube is supplied to the heater plug so as to maintain the same in operation.

An elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib 4 is secured along its length to the vaporizer tube 1 on the side thereof which is nearest the heater plug. The tube portion 1a is provided with a groove 3 which extends, throughout a predetermined length, on the side of the tube 1 which is nearest the heater plug, from the shoulder portion of the tube 1 formed at the place where the tube portions in and 1b meet. The depth of the groove 3 is, in the preferred embodiment, substantially equal to the difference in radii of the tube portions 111 and 1b.

The uppermost portion of the rib 4, as viewed in the drawings, is located Within the groove 3 and is firmly in contact with both tube portions 1a and 1b. The rib 4 is fixedly secured to both of these portions such as by soldering, Welding, brazing or the like. It will be seen that by virtue of this arrangement it is extremely simple to solder, weld or braze the rib to the tube 1 inasmuch as the rib may temporarily be held in place by locating part of the rib within the groove 3. While the rib is so located it is possible to solder, weld or braze the rib to the tube 1 without it being necessary to hold the rib in place by means of tongs, clamps or the like.

As is clearly seen in Fig. 4, the rib 4 is secured to the tube 1 along that section of the tube which is opposite the heater plug of the burner 6. By virtue of this arrangement the rib acts as a heat conductor and is adapted to transfer heat radiated by the heater plug to the tube so as to heat fuel contained within the bore of the tube 1. Also, the rib acts as a reinforcing member which is adapted to reinforce the tube 1 so as to prevent deformation, such as bending or twisting thereof when the same is heated by the fuel burner.

The rib 4 may be considerably longer than is illustrated in the drawing and may extend throughout the entire length of the tube 1 or throughout any part thereof. It is desirable however that the rib be located not only on that side of the tube which is exposed to the greatest heat from the heater plug of the fuel burner 6 but also along that part of the tube length which is opposite the heater plug.

The groove 3 in the tube portion It: should be sufficiently long so as to receive at least part of that portion of the rib 4 which is in contact with and which is fixedly mounted to the tube portion 1a.

The rib 4 may be of any suitable cross-section. in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the rib 4 is of substantially rectangular cross-section and may be chamfered as shown at 5', so that the rib will not be in contact with the lower end of the heater plug which may have the bulb-like shape shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 the rib is shown "as being of substantially T-shaped or Y-shaped cross-section. Part of the rib 4' is shown as being arranged within the groove 3' of the vaporizer tube 1, which tube is provided with a heating coil. 2. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable in cases where the heater plug is provided with a hole from which a darting flame issues and impinges upon the vaporizer tube. The rib, rather than the vaporizer tube, will then be hit by the darting flame and melting of the tube l, or severe deformation thereof, will be prevented.

Alternatively, the rib may be an integral part of the tube 1.

The fuel burner arrangement according to the present invention functions in substantially the same manner as known fuel burners in that fuel within the tube 1 and heated by the heater plug is vaporized and supplied to the plug. By virtue of the present invention, however, the heat generated by the heater plug is transmitted very efficiently to the vaporizer tube 1 inasmuch as the rib is located on that side of the tube which is nearest to the heater plug. Consequently, the metallic mass of the vaporizer tube is brought into close proximity with the heater plug.

Furthermore, the rib acts as a reinforcing member which is adapted to prevent deformation of the tube 1. By virtue of its particular location relative to the heater plug the rib reinforces the tube at the place at which such reinforcement is needed most, i. e. at the place which is closest to the heater plug.

Also, the rib, being arranged between the heater plug and the vaporizer tube 1, does not act as a cooling fin and does not, therefore, assist in the dissipation of heat from the vaporizer tube 1.

It will be understood that eachv of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of Vaporizers differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a fuel burner arrangement, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A vaporizer for liquid fuel burners comprising, in combination, a vaporizer tube; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof, said rib being adapted to transfer heat to said tube from a fuel burner supplied with fuel by the vaporizer and arranged in the region of the heating coil so as to heat fuel in said tube, said rib reinforcing said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by the fuel burner.

2. A vaporizer for liquid fuel burners comprising, in combination, a vaporizer tube having a first portion of a predetermined diameter and a second portion of a diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter, said first tube portion having on one side thereof a groove of a predetermined length extending longitudinally Within said first tube portion from the place where said first tube portion meets said second tube portion, the depth of said groove being substantially equal to the difference in radii of said tube portions; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on said one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof, said rib being arranged throughout at least part of its length at least partially within said groove, and being adapted to transfer heat to said tube from a fuel burner supplied with fuel by the vaporizer and arranged in the region of the heating coil so as to heat fuel in said tube, said rib reinforcing said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by the fuel burner.

3. In a fuel burner arrangement, in combination, a vaporizer tube; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; a fuel burner connected to and adapted to be supplied with fuel by said tube and arranged in the region of said heating coil and opposite said one side of said tube; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting member secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof facing said burner so as simultaneously to transfer heat from said burner to said tube for heating fuel therein and to reinforce said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by said burner.

4. In a fuel burner arrangement, in combination, a vaporizer tube having a groove on one side thereof extending longitudinally therein throughout at least a part of the length of said tube; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on said one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; a fuel burner connected to and adapted to be supplied with fuel by said tube and arranged in the region of said heating coil and opposite said one side of said tube; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting member secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof facing said burner, said member being arranged throughout at least part of its length at least partially within said groove so as simultaneously to transfer heat from said burner to said tube for heating fuel therein and to reinforce said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by said burner.

5. In a fuel burner arrangement, in combination, a vaporizer tube having a first portion of a predetermined diameter and a second portion of a diameter smaller than said predetermined diameter, said first tube portion having on one side thereof a groove of a predetermined length extending longitudinally within said first tube portion from the place where said first tube portion meets said second tube portion; a heating coil communicating with said first portion of said tube, mounted thereon on said one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; a fuel burner connected to and adapted to be supplied with fuel by said tube and arranged in the region of said heating coil and opposite said one side of said tube; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting member secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof facing said burner, said member being arranged throughout at least part of its length at least partially within said groove so as simultaneously to transfer heat from said burner to said tube for heating fuel therein and to reinforce said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof When the same is heated by said burner.

6. A vaporizer for liquid fuel burners comprising, in combination, a vaporizer tube; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof, said rib having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being adapted to transfer heat to said tube from a fuel burner supplied with fuel by the vaporizer and arranged in the region of the heating coil so as to heat fuel in said tube, said rib reinforcing said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by the fuel burner.

7. A vaporizer for liquid fuel burners comprising, in combination, a vaporizer tube; a heating coil communicating with said tube, mounted thereon on one side thereof and projecting laterally therefrom; and an elongated combined reinforcing and heat conducting rib secured along its length to said tube on said one side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction thereof, said rib having a substantially T-shaped cross-section and being adapted to transfer heat to said tube from a fuel burner supplied with fuel by the vaporizer and arranged in the region of the heating coil so as to heat fuel in said tube, said rib reinforcing said tube, thereby preventing deformation thereof when the same is heated by the fuel burner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 416,574 Crosby Dec. 3, 1889 1,031,369 Preston July 2, 1912 1,300,246 Campbell Apr. 15, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 499,014 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1939 874,762 France May 18, 1942 

